System and method of configuring HVAC components in an HVAC system

• US 9,872,126 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Yarde, Bryan M., Roher, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria, Satish
• Application Number:
  US14/513,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-306
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21079 Allocate at start up also to each controlled device a code for the master
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31197 Near field communication nfc
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system and method of configuring HVAC components in an HVAC system including a main system controller in operable communication with at least one auxiliary controller, wherein the main system controller and each of the at least one auxiliary controllers include a near field communication interface. The HVAC system components are configured by placing each of the at least one auxiliary controllers in close proximity to the main system controller, and operating the main system controller to initiate a pairing event.

Claims

1. A method of configuring and operating components within a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including a main system controller in communication with one or more auxiliary controllers, wherein the main system controller and each of the one or more auxiliary controllers include a near field communication interface, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating, by the main system controller and in response to a determination that each of the or more auxiliary controllers is in proximate range to the main system controller, a pairing event with each of the one or more auxiliary controllers;

assigning, by the main system controller and subsequent to having successfully paired with the one or more auxiliary controllers, a unique identifier to each of the one or more auxiliary controllers;

receiving, by the main system controller, a signal from a paired auxiliary controller of the one or more auxiliary controllers, wherein the signal is indicative of a demand to heat or cool detected by the paired auxiliary controller, and wherein the signal includes a unique identifier of the paired auxiliary controller and an HVAC control command corresponding to the condition detected by the paired auxiliary controller; and

performing, by the main system controller, an action on the HVAC system based on the HVAC control command received with the signal from the paired auxiliary controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing event includes an exchange of data between the main system controller and each of the one or more auxiliary controllers using the near field communication interfaces.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the unique identifier to each of the one or more auxiliary controller includes transmitting the respective unique identifier to each of the one or more auxiliary controller to which the respective unique identifier has been assigned.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the paired auxiliary controller is associated with a designated zone, and wherein performing the action on the HVAC system comprises performing the action on a portion of the HVAC system corresponding to the designated zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the paired auxiliary controller includes at least one of a thermostat, a damper, an indoor unit control board, and an outdoor unit control board.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the signal from the paired auxiliary controller comprises receiving the signal via one of a wired electrical communication path or a wireless electrical communication path.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the pairing event with each of the one or more auxiliary controllers comprises initiating the paring event by a near field communication interface of the main system controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving signal from the paired auxiliary controller comprises receiving the signal via an electrical communication path that is not managed by the near field communication interface.

9. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:

a main system controller; and

one or more auxiliary controllers in communication with the main system controller;

wherein the main system controller and each of the one or more auxiliary controllers includes a near field communication interface; and

wherein the main system controller;

initiates, by the near field communication interface of the main system controller and in response to a determination that each of the or more auxiliary controllers is in proximate range to the main system controller, a pairing event with each of the one or more auxiliary controllers;

assigns, subsequent to having successfully paired with the one or more auxiliary controllers, a unique identifier to each of the one or more auxiliary controllers;

receives a signal from a paired auxiliary controller of the one or more auxiliary controllers, wherein the signal is indicative of a demand to heat or cool detected by the paired auxiliary controller, and wherein the signal includes the unique identifier of the paired auxiliary controller and an HVAC control command corresponding to the condition detected by the paired auxiliary controller; and

performs an action on the HVAC system based on the HVAC control command received with the signal from the paired auxiliary controller.

10. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein the pairing event includes an exchange of data between the main system controller and each of the one or more auxiliary controllers using the near field communication interfaces.

11. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein each of the one or more auxiliary controllers are configured to:

receive, by the near field communication interface of the respective one of the auxiliary controllers during the pairing event, the unique identifier assigned to the respective one of the auxiliary controllers by the main system controller;

receive a demand to one of heat or cool an area associated with the respective one of the auxiliary controllers; and

transmit, subsequent to having successfully paired with the main system controller, a signal to the main system controller, wherein the signal is indicative of the received demand, and wherein the signal includes the received unique identifier.

12. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein to assign the unique identifier to each of the at least one auxiliary controller includes to transmit the respective unique identifier to each of the at least one auxiliary controller to which the respective unique identifier has been assigned.

13. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein the paired auxiliary controller is associated with a designated zone, and wherein to perform the action on the HVAC system comprises to perform the action on a portion of the HVAC system corresponding to the designated zone.

14. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein the paired auxiliary controller includes at least one of a thermostat, a damper, an indoor unit control board, and an outdoor unit control board.

15. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein to receive the signal from the paired auxiliary controller comprises to receive the signal via one of a wired electrical communication path or a wireless electrical communication path.

16. The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein to initiate the pairing event with each of the one or more auxiliary controllers comprises to initiate the paring event by a near field communication interface of the main system controller.

17. The HVAC system of claim 16, wherein to receive signal from the paired auxiliary controller comprises to receive the signal via an electrical communication path that is not managed by the near field communication interface.